In 1973, our people formed the Labrador Inuit Association (LIA) to promote Inuit culture, improve the health and well-being of our people, protect our constitutional, democratic and human rights and advance Labrador Inuit claims to our land and to self-government. Throughout the years, we have made important progress by establishing organizations such as the Labrador Inuit Development Corporation (LIDC), the Labrador Inuit Health Commission (LIHC) and the Torngâsok Cultural Centre.

The core issue of the Labrador Inuit Land Claim remains outstanding. Filed in 1977, it has seen 30 years of slow progress. It is the only unsettled Inuit land claim in Canada. However, in 2001, LIA and the federal and provincial governments signed an agreement-in-principle for the settlement of Labrador Inuit claims and the recognition of Labrador Inuit self-government. Through self-government, we will build on a tradition of innovation to shape our own destiny.

On August 29, 2003, Inuit and government negotiators initialed a final Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement. The Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement (Agreement) was signed by the President of the Labrador Inuit Association (LIA), the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, the provincial Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, and the federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development on January 22, 2005. The Agreement was ratified by 76.4 percent of the registered Inuit voters who voted on May 26, 2004.

On December 6, 2004, the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly passed the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act . The Act received Royal Assent the same day. Bill C-56, An Act to give effect to the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement and the Labrador Inuit Tax Treatment Agreement, received first reading on Monday June 6, 2005.

Brief History
Winds of Change